Import Radar Cross-Section from Feko

Ray-optical simulations in WinProp can be accelerated if selected objects are replaced by scattering information that was imported from Feko.

In simulations of automotive radar systems, one can include the shapes of all objects accurately in WinProp and use standard ray tracing model (SRT) in the analysis.


Figure 1. An example of automotive radar systems.

A disadvantage is that many objects (many surface panels) may be needed to approximate an object (for example, a car) accurately enough. This can make the simulations time-consuming.

An alternative approach is to perform radar cross-section (RCS) simulations in Feko and use the results of such simulations in WinProp. An object in WinProp can then be simple; it can even be just a box. Whenever a ray hits the simple model, the RCS information from Feko is used to calculate the monostatic reflection. ProMan automatically corrects the (far-field) RCS to account for the finite distance, since in the near field, the wave fronts are not planar anymore.

To produce the necessary file with RCS information in a Feko simulation, set up a monostatic RCS simulation in Feko with an angular sweep of incident plane waves. Request far fields in Feko; select the option Calculate fields in plane wave incidence direction to obtain the monostatic RCS. On the Advanced tab of the far field request, select output to an ASCII file. The Feko solver will write a .ffe file to disk.



Figure 2. An example of monostatic RCS results in Feko.
The monostatic RCS from Feko can be assigned to a (moving) object group in a (time-variant) ProMan project, under Monostatic radar cross-section (RCS), see Figure 3.


Figure 3. The Edit Project Parameter dialog, Database tab.
The origin of the RCS information is placed by default in the center of the bounding box of the group of objects to which it is assigned. In this context, a group is usually the collection of faces that together form one moving object such as a car. Such groups are defined in WallMan when creating the time-variant scenario.


Figure 4. The Add a new RCS dialog.

The location of the origin can be adjusted depending on the actual scenario of interest. In particular, it is often convenient to adjust the Z-coordinate of the RCS origin depending on the height of the radar system in the WinProp simulation.

The theta and phi angles from the Feko simulation are used in ProMan as follows:
  • Theta is the angle with the Z-axis, for example, the vertical axis.
  • Phi is the angle from the East in a counter-clockwise direction.
If East is considered the X-axis, then this means that the spherical coordinates in Feko and WinProp are identical.

The azimuth angle can be adjusted in case the object, for example, the car, does not have the same orientation in the Feko and WinProp simulations.

An averaging filter is provided because the RCS results from Feko, at high frequencies, can vary by many dB within a couple of degrees. In the real world, where the radar system and other objects move in a complicated scenario, small and high reflections can alternate rapidly. Also, due to finite distances, deep nulls in the far-field RCS will be filled in. Therefore, the application of an averaging filter is appropriate to obtain more realistic results.